Untamed economies have brought the world to the brink of collapse.

Forget sustainable development. The world has relentlessly exploited resources and is "characterized by unchecked materialism and consumption."

After eliminating trade barriers, trade flourished and economic power shifted to Asia, with emerging countries surpassing the West.

Consequently, energy resources are even more scarce, energy prices high, and raw materials costly. Not to mention the climate change and more frequently-occurring natural disasters that disrupt the supply chains.

In a world of 3D printing, customized lifestyle dominates.

Consumers create, design, and develop their own products thanks to new production technologies such as 3D printers.

The regional trade streams flourish, while raw material and data still flows globally.

The world has embraced the importance of recycling but the growth in personalized products increased consumption of energy and raw materials steering the world towards "a 3.5 °C temperature increase by the end of the century."